Chapter 20: Story

"I see you very happy"

The boy turned around when he felt the hand of the owner of the place resting on her shoulder, with a smile he turned around scratching the back of his neck.

"I recognize that look.. Who is the lucky one?" Juhee asked after analyzing Goku's eyes, they were the eyes of a lover.

"Lucky? I don't understand..." the boy tilted showing his confusion and the woman laughed at those words, "Could you explain it to me?"

"I've lived a long time Goku, through your eyes I've realized that there's a girl you like..." Juhee clarified and the boy smiled nervously upon hearing the words of his boss.

"I don't think I like her besides, we just met" Goku spoke, he wasn't an expert in feelings but he saw in Tsubaki a friend and nothing more, he was sure of it.

"Oh yeah? Why don't we sit down and tell me about her, Goku?" Juhee spoke since there weren't many customers yet and they could take advantage of talking.

Juhee walked to the closest seat and sat there placing two cups of tea, Goku followed her and sat in front of her, it was the first time he sat like this next to her boss.

Irimi could attend to the other customers in the meantime since there weren't too many for Goku to intervene, Juhee seeing this took a sip of her tea waiting for Goku to speak.

"Well, she is... strict and sometimes very serious, but I think that deep down she is funny, nice and very funny" Goku spoke with a smile remembering her talk with Tsubaki.

"Oh, she seems to be an excellent girl" answered the woman smiling, "Tell me Goku... do you enjoy spending time with her? laugh, talk and eat with her?"

"Well yes, she has even offered to teach me how to cook ehehehe" added Goku with a smile, tomorrow he would have to go to her house.

"Hahaha youthful love how cute!" screamed dramatically the woman with hearts in both eyes, "Take advantage of all the time with her Goku, if you ever feel something for her never keep it to yourself... or it will be too late"

Goku noticed that Juhee had a look of sadness on her face, he knew that those words were probably related to some aspect of her life, but which one?

"I'll tell you a little story" Juhee announced and Goku nodded listening, "There was a time ago a boy who was like you, he moved to the city to start college and everything was fine, but..."

Goku nodded when he heard her, he sensed that this would have a happy ending but it was too soon to think that... and he continued listening to Juhee's story.

"The night of the university course opening party arrived but the boy didn't know anyone so he sat in a fountain, there, alone, with no one... and it just so happened that the same thing happened to a girl, and they both met" she continued.

It was typical of rookie boys who make friends at a party where the popular ones go, but Juhee's background was different and she wanted to pass it on to Goku.

"They both enjoyed getting to know each other during the night and joined the party, why not" Juhee continued, "The boy fell in love with her at first sight but he did not have enough courage to confess his feelings, and they both went home after a fantastic night"

Goku nodded again at those words, but he didn't understand where her boss wanted to go with all this she was saying or what he intended to convey to her.

"The following days were wonderful for both of them, because they shared lunch, studied together in spare time and chatted to get to know each other better... the boy fell madly in love with her and she began to feel something for him" said the woman seeing Goku and took a sip of her tea.

Seeing that he hadn't tasted almost any of his tea, Goku drank and wrinkled his forehead a little since that tea was quite bitter and hot.

"So six months passed, the two were in love with each other but neither had the courage to confess... and the day came when the girl changed university" said the woman again, "They stayed to say goodbye and the boy could not come to tell him what he felt because he was afraid, the girl thought that he would take the step and that is why he did not confess, so they both separated".

Even Irimi was listening to that from a distance, she had to admit that the story that her boss was telling was extremely... entertaining.

"They kept in touch for the first three months until suddenly the girl stopped sending him emails for three months" Juhee recounted, "The boy finally decided to confess because he couldn't stand this and went to the city where the girl was currently living".

The occasional customer stopped to hear the story, they were so curious and now they couldn't stop listening to it until Juhee got to the end.

"When he arrived at the girl's house, according to the address she had given him months before when he arrived, he took the news that the girl died three months ago from a stroke" Juhee spoke and several gasped, "But he found a letter for her written by her before she died"

"Then what next?"

"Ahaha I'm dying to know"

"It's very intriguing, don't you think?"

Juhee smiled knowing that there were several clients interested in her story, but this one was specially directed to Goku and only to him.

"In the letter she informed him that in reality she was going to another city because she had an illness and that she never wanted to tell him so as not to worry him and that the beautiful memories she lived with him would last forever" the woman related, "The boy cried like never before to know how stupid he wasn't to confess when she loved him too, but now she would never know... and unfortunately her letter could not arrive on time..."

Goku opened his eyes at the end of that story, Juhee smiled sensing that Goku had understood the message that she wanted to convey.

"Take advantage of every minute with that Tsubaki... you never know what you have until you lose it, that's my advice Goku" Juhee spoke looking at her employee, whom she loved as if he were his son.

"I'll keep that in mind, I promise" Goku spoke seriously since that story had made him reflect on certain facts.

He regretted not having told his grandfather how much he loved him, how much he admired him... but now it was too late and he would have to live with that for the rest of his days, sorry in his heart.

"Oh daughter, you're back!" Juhee spoke looking at a beautiful blonde with jade eyes who was wearing the junior uniform of Kuoh High School.

The beautiful blonde girl locked eyes with Goku's onyx eyes and puffed out her cheeks holding a handkerchief to her nose, Goku smiled nervously.

"Do you already know each other?" Juhee asked seeing that both young people looked at each other, the girl immediately denied, "Well, Goku, she is my daughter Cha Hae-In, and he is my employee, I hope you get along"

Chae Haein frowned at the boy from class 2-C and fellow kendo club member, he had failed her and she was never going to forgive him.

"A pleasure Chae Haein, I hope we get along really well" Goku introduced himself, extending his hand to the blonde, who stared at him for a few moments before frowning again.

"Goku, you promised me that we would have a practice for the national tournament but so far nothing" Cha Hae-In spoke annoyed, since three weeks had already passed since the promise.

"I'm sorry I haven't had time, Monday without fail, yes?" Goku spoke, joining his hands comically and Chae nodded satisfied.

"I was already saying that you guys know each other... you don't fool me hohoho" Juhee spoke laughing and Goku smiled seeing his boss so happy.